SOCIETY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN. 33 



with a bullet through the groin and right side injuring the bowel also. 

 The wound had been left severely alone, and the man, very much 

 emaciated, was still alive, although living in a filthy condition, with 

 much suppuration from the wounds. Native doctors' methods seem 

 nil. There is a medical college in Lhassa, which is a downright farce. 

 We could discover nothing that was taught there, or perhaps it was 

 that they would not " give anything away ". When asked what their 

 treatment for dysentery was, a man went out, and, bringing in a hand- 

 ful of grass from the hillside, told us that was their treatment. 



Religion and Monasteries. Of their religion I know nothing but 

 that they are Buddhists. There are numerous monasteries, which 

 are always large buildings, and the largest of all, which is also the 

 largest in the world, is Daipung, containing 7,000 monks. These 

 monasteries are invariably built on the face of a mountain ; the chief 

 abbot's house is buiftT higher up on the mountain above the monas- 

 tery, which is a detached building or buildings, usually about ten. 

 The main one is usually of red brick or stone painted red, sometimes 

 red and yellow ; the better ones have gilded roofs, and are two or 

 three storeys high. The main building is the temple and the chief 

 room is long and spacious. Over the ceiling and from it hang rich 

 tapestries, but these are only in the grand rooms ; the walls and pillars 

 are covered with silk or other scrolls ; the room is very dark, except- 

 ing round the altar, which is in the middle of one side and which has 

 hundreds of small oil lamps burning night and day. Here are also 

 all kinds of vessels, images, etc. Behind the altar is a curtained recess 

 containing a large image of Buddha. Long rows of benches round 

 the altar, covered with thick mats, accommodate the sentinel monks. 

 Out of this large room is an idol room full of idols of all shapes and 

 sizes. There are altogether many rooms, both up and down stairs, 

 containing books bound in wood, trumpets, gongs, bells, etc. In one 

 room, " The Devil Dancing Room," are all the materials for the devil 

 dance ; the walls are painted with hideous figures of the devil in 

 every imaginable shape and form. There are robes and masks of 

 fearful visage, daggers of wood and brass, human bone aprons, light 



